It’s essential to prioritize the well-being of our furry companions, especially during special occasions like Christmas. Our dogs rely on us for their care, so making sure they are safe and comfortable is crucial. This includes providing them with food, water, a warm place to rest, and avoiding exposure to cold weather to prevent health risks like hypothermia. By taking the necessary precautions, we ensure our dogs have a safe and happy holiday season.
Our 22-year-old OP faced a similar dilemma with her 130-pound Cane Corso. She had agreed to bring her dog along for a family visit, but her plans were disrupted when her parents adopted a small, dog-aggressive pup. Despite efforts to find a solution, her stepmother insisted on keeping the new dog inside, leaving OP no choice but to refuse the visit and skip Christmas. Now, facing criticism from family members, she’s wondering if she’s overreacting by prioritizing her dog’s well-being.
Scroll down to read the full story.
Source: Reddit
1. OP asks if she is wrong to get angry when her parents expect her to leave her dog outside during a Christmas visit.
2. OP owns a 130-pound Cane Corso and left him with friends last year during a family visit. Unhappy with the arrangement, she requested to bring him along the next year, to which her parents consented.
3. However plans were disrupted when her parents adopted a small dog that turned out to be dog-aggressive.
4. OP offered to accommodate by crating her dog indoors or swapping crates, but her stepmother insisted that OP’s dog stay outside.
5. Upset, OP refused, expressing concern over her dog spending five days outdoors in the cold, despite the yard being fenced and a heated shed available.
6. With limited options like pet hotels or friends nearby, she proposed compromises such as confining her dog to one room and going out for walks, but her stepmother rejected the suggestions.
7. In a decisive moment, OP informed her stepmother that if her dog couldn’t stay inside the house, she wouldn’t attend the visit.
8. OP acknowledged that some dogs of Dude’s breed are traditionally kept outdoors for protection, but emphasized that he was never intended for such a role.
Comments on this Story:
9. Despite being described as tiny, if she’s biting people, it’s a risky situation. Having a house full of people could escalate the problem.
10. It’s reasonable not to attend when your needs aren’t considered. Enjoy a lovely Christmas with your furry companion!
11. Ample notice should have been given for OP to plan accordingly, which they failed to do.
12. If the heated shed provides comfort, why not let the parent’s dog stay there?
13. OP’s dog deserves consideration too. OP has suggested fair compromises, but the stepmother declined.
14. Your lack of sadness is noticeable, but your dog is family. It’s fair to decline when your pet’s comfort is at stake.
15. Doubt step-mom would leave her dog outside!!
16. Crating the ankle biter would resolve the issue for everyone involved.
17. No one is wrong here….It’s understandable they don’t want your dog indoors, and your decision not to go is reasonable too.
18. Keeping a dog outside in sub-zero temperatures overnight is cruel, regardless of location.
19. A Redditor shared how her large dog, the Cane Corso gets cornered by the kitties and cries until rescued.
20. In all likelihood, your dog would bark excessively if left alone outside, returning to the initial problem. It seems like a lose-lose scenario.
